German supermarket chain sparks sausage sexism storm

A German supermarket chain has come under fire for its "sexist" sausages.

Edeka has marketed different varieties of sausage for men and women. The sausages are lean for ladies, while their male counterparts are hearty and strongly spiced.

Political scientist and feminist journalist Antje Schrupp told The Local that while in the end it is just a sausage, the way the product has been marketed is 'dull sexism'.

In a blog post, she quoted a letter to Edeka from fellow journalist Susanne Enz which read: "Of course you can react to it as if it's just a joke, and presumably most sausage-buyers will do that.

"But your choice of name and accompanying advertising is still the expression and promotion of a - in the best case - thoughtless normative sexism, which gives each gender a 'right' role to play, with a built-in hierarchy.

"That affects the perceptions of people - even in small, seemingly trivial, playful contexts - and stands stubbornly in the way of gender equality."

Schrupp also raised concerns about the price of the women's lean sausages, which cost more than the men's meatier option.

"It's a general problem," she said. "I've seen women's and men's mustard as well. Often for children, of course."

Two spokesmen have responded to Enz's letter. One said that the women's sausages are more expensive because they contain leaner meat and vegetables wrapped in a delicate skin, while the second spokesperson has passed her concerns on to the responsible regional official.